FOOD-HABITS OF THE BARBASTELLE BAT BARBASTELLA-BARBASTELLUS

The diet of Barbastella barbastellus was investigated through analysis of droppings collected from three maternity roosts in Germany and Swi tzerland. The results showed a high dominance of moths (Lepidoptera), which accounted for 73-94% of the recovered items by volume. Flies (Di ptera), ranging in size from blow flies (Calliphoridae) and large cran e flies (Tipulidae) to small Nematocera, were the second most importan t prey items (4-17%). Prey types recovered also included small numbers of Trichoptera, Neuroptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, Coleoptera and sp iders (Araneae). The diet of the barbastelle differs from that of most other bats in Europe in the predominance of moths and the correspondi ng virtual absence of dung beetles (Coleoptera; Scarabaeidae) and midg es (Diptera; Chironomidae). Conservation measures for barbastelles sho uld therefore consider facilitation of the diversity and abundance of moths.